Printer that performs shading correction and method for operating the same

ABSTRACT

A printer includes a discharge unit, a first printing unit disposed along a sheet conveying path extending from the discharge unit and configured to print an image on a first sheet while the first sheet is conveyed from the discharge unit to the first printing unit and then to the discharge unit, a second printing unit disposed farther from the discharge unit than the first printing unit along the sheet conveyance path and configured to print an image on a second sheet while the second sheet is conveyed towards the discharge unit therethrough, a scanning unit disposed along the sheet conveying path between the discharge unit and the first printing unit, and configured to scan a surface of the first sheet, and a control unit configured to perform a shading correction of the scanning unit using the second sheet as a white reference.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/796,680, filed on Jul. 10, 2015. The entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a printer that performsshading correction and a method for operating the same.

BACKGROUND

Currently, a printer is used in financial institutions for printingimages on a booklet such as a bankbook and a ledger sheet such as a bankstatement. Typically, a dot printer is used to print images on thebooklet. The booklet is inserted into the dot printer by a user and theprinting is performed thereon. On the other hand, a thermal printer istypically used to print the ledger sheet, and a sheet stored in thethermal printer is used to print the ledger sheet. One type of a printerhas both a dot printing unit and a thermal printing unit, and has asingle sheet conveyance path that is shared by the dot printing unit andthe thermal printing unit to make the printer smaller. Another type of aprinter that prints images on the booklet has a scanner (image sensor)that scans a surface of the booklet, for example to detect the pagenumber of a sheet of the booklet on which the printing is performed.

Generally, in order to properly detect an image on a scanned surface ofa sheet, a scanner needs to periodically perform a shading correction.Usually, a reference plate is used to reset detection values for whiteduring the shading correction. However, the reference plate may becomean obstacle to making the size of the printer small.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates main components of a printer according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operations carried out when a booklet is usedfor printing in the printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operations carried out when roll paper is usedfor printing in the printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of operations carried out in the printer accordingto a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments provide a printer in which shading correction isperformed automatically, without using a separate white reference boardprepared for the shading correction by a user.

In general, according to one embodiment, a printer includes a dischargeunit, a first printing unit disposed along a sheet conveying pathextending from the discharge unit and configured to print an image on afirst sheet while the first sheet is conveyed from the discharge unit tothe first printing unit and then to the discharge unit, a secondprinting unit disposed farther from the discharge unit than the firstprinting unit along the sheet conveyance path and configured to print animage on a second sheet while the second sheet is conveyed towards thedischarge unit therethrough, a scanning unit disposed along the sheetconveying path between the discharge unit and the first printing unit,and configured to scan a surface of the first sheet, and a control unitconfigured to perform a shading correction of the scanning unit usingthe second sheet as a white reference.

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a printer according to a first embodiment will be describedin detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates main components of the printer according to the firstembodiment.

A multifunction printer 1 includes a plurality of printing mechanismsdifferent from one another. According to the embodiment, in FIG. 1, theleft side is referred to as a front side of the multifunction printer 1and the right side is referred to as a rear side of the multifunctionprinter 1.

An insertion and discharge slit 2 is provided on the front side of themultifunction printer 1. Through the insertion and discharge slit 2, abooklet P such as a bankbook is inserted, or the booklet P on whichprinting is completed or roll paper 15 (described below), which is cutoff as a ledger sheet after printing is completed is discharged to theoutside of the multifunction printer 1. According to the embodiment,paper in a roll shape is described as the roll paper 15 and a sheetwhich is cut off after the necessary printing on the roll paper 15 isperformed is described as a ledger sheet C.

A collection storage 14 is provided on the rear side of themultifunction printer 1 and collects and stores a booklet P or a ledgersheet C which a user forgets to take out.

A first upper transport guide 3 and a first lower transport guide 4extend from the insertion and discharge slit 2 to the collection storage14. A first paper transport path 5 is formed between the first uppertransport guide 3 and the first lower transport guide 4, and the bookletP and the roll paper 15 are transported through the first papertransport path 5. According to the embodiment, a transport direction ofthe booklet P or the ledger sheet C from the insertion and dischargeslit 2 to the collection storage 14 is described as a transportdirection A. When there is not provided a specific description, in FIG.1, the left side which is the front side, is described as an upstreamside and the right side is described as a downstream side.

A feed roller 6 and an idler roller 7 are disposed to face each other onthe downstream side of the insertion and discharge slit 2 in thetransport direction A. The feed roller 6 is rotatable by a motor notillustrated and the idler roller 7 is disposed opposite to the feedroller 6 across the first paper transport path 5. These feed roller 6and idler roller 7 are a pair, and the booklet P or the ledger sheet Cis nipped therebetween and is transported therethrough. A plurality ofpairs of the feed rollers 6 and the idler rollers 7 is provided alongthe first paper transport path 5.

In addition, an alignment unit 8 is provided on the downstream side ofthe insertion and discharge slit 2 in the transport direction A. Thealignment unit 8 includes a paper sheet position detecting sensor, ashutter, a paper sheet pinch mechanism, an alignment side end wall (notillustrated) and corrects an orientation, a position, or the like, ofthe booklet P inserted from the insertion and discharge slit 2 so thatthe booklet P moves to a predetermined position and a predeterminedorientation.

A magnetic stripe (MS) reading and writing unit 9 is provided on thedownstream side of the alignment unit 8 in the transport direction A.The MS reading and writing unit 9 performs reading and writing ofinformation from and in a magnetic stripe portion (not illustrated)which is provided on the rear surface of the booklet P.

A page line finder (PLF) 10 is provided on the downstream side of the MSreading and writing unit 9 in the transport direction A. The PLF 10includes a CCD image sensor and the like and detects a page opened atthe moment and a printed line on the page of the booklet P.

A dot head 11 and a platen roller 12 are disposed to face each other onthe downstream side of the PLF 10 in the transport direction A. Theplaten roller 12 is disposed opposite to the dot head 11 across thefirst paper transport path 5. A first print unit 13 includes these dothead 11 and the platen roller 12 and performs printing on the booklet P.

The collection storage 14 is provided on the downstream side of thefirst print unit 13 in the transport direction A.

The roll paper 15, which is supported rotatably against a frame (notillustrated) and is paper wound around a winding shaft 16, is loaded onthe rear side of the multifunction printer 1.

A heat-sensitive layer on which color appears by heating is formed onlyon a printing surface A17 of the roll paper 15.

In addition, in the multifunction printer 1, an idler roller 18 thatimparts constant tension to the roll paper 15 is provided.

A second upper transport guide 19 and a second lower transport guide 20extend from the idler roller 18 toward the front side of themultifunction printer 1. A second paper transport path 21 is formedbetween the second upper transport guide 19 and the second lowertransport guide 20 and the roll paper 15 is transported through thesecond paper transport path 21. The second paper transport path 21 isjoined to the first paper transport path 5 on the downstream side of thefirst print unit 13 in the transport direction A. According to theembodiment, a transport direction of the roll paper 15 or the ledgersheet C from the idler roller 18 toward the insertion and discharge slit2 through a joining section 29, which is a joining position of the firstpaper transport path 5 with the second paper transport path 21, isdescribed as a transport direction B.

A feed roller 22 and an idler roller 23 are disposed to face each otheron the downstream side of the idler roller 18 in the transport directionB. The feed roller 22 is rotatable by a motor not illustrated and theidler roller 23 is disposed opposite to the feed roller 22 across thesecond paper transport path 21. These feed roller 22 and idler roller 23are a pair, and the roll paper 15 is nipped therebetween and istransported therethrough. A plurality of pairs of the feed rollers 22and the idler rollers 23 is provided along the second paper transportpath 21.

A thermal print head 24 and a platen roller 25 are provided on thedownstream side of the idler roller 18 in the transport direction B. Theplaten roller 25 is disposed opposite to the thermal print head 24across the second paper transport path 21 and is rotatable by a motornot illustrated. A second print unit 26 includes these thermal printhead 24 and the platen roller 25 and printing on the printing surfaceA17 of the roll paper 15 is performed at the second print unit 26.

A cutter 27 is disposed on the downstream side of the second print unit26 in the transport direction B. The cutter 27 includes a stationaryblade and a movable blade (both not illustrated) and cuts the roll paper15 inserted into a slit (not illustrated) which is provided in thecutter 27 by causing the movable blade to slide to the stationary bladeby driving a cutter motor not illustrated. Here, the cutter 27 is aso-called sliding-type cutter in which the movable blade slides to thestationary blade, but may not be limited thereto. The cutter 27 may be aso-called rotary-type cutter that cuts paper by causing the movableblade to rotate and to come in contact with the stationary blade.

The first paper transport path 5 and the second paper transport path 21are joined with each other on the downstream side of the cutter 27 inthe transport direction B. A flapper 28 is provided in the joiningsection 29, which is the joining position. The flapper 28 is rotatableabout a flapper rotating shaft 28-1. When the flapper 28 is rotatedcounterclockwise, the second paper transport path 21 and the first papertransport path 5 communicate with each other. When the flapper 28 isrotated clockwise, the transport may be performed only through the firstpaper transport path 5 from the insertion and discharge slit 2 to thecollection storage 14.

In addition, an insertion and discharge table 30 is provided in thevicinity of the insertion and discharge slit 2 on the front side of themultifunction printer 1. The insertion and discharge table 30 is used totemporarily support the booklet P or the ledger sheet C when the bookletP is inserted into the multifunction printer 1 and when the booklet P orthe ledger sheet C is discharged therefrom. In addition, a collectionsensor 31 that detects whether a user takes away the booklet P or theledger sheet C discharged from the insertion and discharge slit 2. Inaddition, a display unit 32 that displays various states of themultifunction printer 1 including an error message indicating that apaper jam occurred or a running out of paper is provided on an uppersurface of the multifunction printer 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the multifunctionprinter 1 according to the embodiment. The controller 50 performscontrol of transport of paper, printing, cutting of paper, discharge ofa paper sheet, collection of a paper sheet, shading correction, and adisplay of a state of the multifunction printer 1.

The controller 50 performs communication with a host computer 70 andvarious types of control operations and includes a microcomputer. Inaddition, the host computer 70 is connected to an external server 80,such as the one located in a financial institution which manages savingsinformation or the like.

A central processing unit (CPU) 51 of the controller 50 performs varioustypes of control or arithmetic operations such as paper sheet transportcontrol, printing control, paper sheet cutting control, paper sheetdischarge control, and paper sheet collecting control in accordance witha program.

In addition, the CPU 51 includes a timer 52 as a unit that performssetting and control of time.

A ROM 53 and a RAM 54 are disposed, in the controller 50, as main memoryunits that store a control program that is executed by the CPU 51, datathat is obtained during the control or arithmetic operation, or thelike.

The ROM 53 is a read only memory that includes the control program, atable, or the like, and the RAM 54 is a random access memory that storesdata that is obtained during the arithmetic operation, or the like.

A shading correction implementation condition portion 90, which holds acondition to execute shading correction of the PLF 10 (described below),is provided in the ROM 53. In addition, a shading target-countingportion 91 (described below), which holds how many days elapsed after aprevious shading correction was carried out, is provided in the RAM 54.

An input/output unit (I/O) 55 is provided in the controller 50 and theI/O 55 performs gathering of various input data items from the hostcomputer 70 and extraction of control output of the controller 50 to thehost computer 70. The I/O 55 is connected to the CPU 51, the ROM 53, andthe RAM 54 through a bus.

As units that extract the control output, first, second, third, fourth,fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh drivers 56,57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, and 66 are connected to the I/O 55.

The first driver 56 supplies a drive output to the first print unit 13.The second driver 57 supplies a drive output to the second print unit26. The third driver 58 supplies a drive output to the feed roller 6.The fourth driver 59 supplies drive output to the alignment unit 8. Thefifth driver 60 supplies a drive output to the MS reading and writingunit 9. The sixth driver 61 supplies a drive output to the PLF 10. Theseventh driver 62 supplies a drive output to the feed roller 22. Theeighth driver 63 supplies a drive signal to the cutter 27. The ninthdriver 64 supplies a drive signal to the flapper 28. The tenth driver 65supplies a drive output to the collection sensor 31. The eleventh driver66 supplies a drive signal to the display unit 32.

Hereinafter, operation of the multifunction printer 1 is described withreference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 and 4. The multifunction printer 1 isused in a state of being incorporated into an automatic teller machineor the like. Here, a bookkeeping operation of the multifunction printer1 is described as an example.

A user presses a button to start bookkeeping through a screen (notillustrated) of the automatic teller machine (ATM) and startstransaction (S1). When the button for the bookkeeping implementation ispressed, the controller 50 operates to display an instruction to openand insert the booklet P, which is a bankbook, from the insertion anddischarge slit 2 of the multifunction printer 1 on the display unit 32for the user.

The user opens and inserts the booklet P from the insertion anddischarge slit 2 in accordance with the instruction (S2). Themultifunction printer 1 rotates the feed roller 6 and to transport thebooklet P to the alignment unit 8 in cooperation with the idler roller 7(S3). The alignment unit 8 corrects an orientation, a position, or thelike, of the transported booklet P and the booklet P is aligned to apreset position and a preset orientation (S4). Since an alignmentmechanism is a known mechanism, a detailed description thereof isomitted.

Then, the aligned booklet P is transported in the transport direction Ain cooperation of the feed roller 6 with the idler roller 7 (S5). In acourse of the transport, the MS reading and writing unit 9 is providedon the transport path of the first paper transport path 5. The MSportion (not illustrated) is provided on the rear surface of the bookletP. User information or the like is written as magnetic information inthe MS portion of the booklet P. The controller 50 acquires the userinformation or the like from the MS portion using the MS reading andwriting unit 9 during the transport of the booklet P and obtains usertransaction information or the like from the external server 80 offinancial institutions or the like (S6). Since an interchange ofinformation between the external servers 80 of the financialinstitutions or the like is a known event, a detailed descriptionthereof is omitted.

When the user transaction information is acquired using the MS readingand writing unit 9, the controller 50 stops the transport of the bookletP (S7). The stopping position is a position where the booklet P does notreach the position of the PLF 10.

Then, the controller 50 determines whether shading correction of the PLF10 of the multifunction printer 1 is performed (S8). Whether to performthe shading correction is determined using a formula stored in theshading correction implementation condition portion 90 and data storedin the shading target-counting portion 91. According to the embodiment,the condition to perform the shading correction is set to every 100 daysof operation of the multifunction printer 1 in the shading correctionimplementation condition portion 90. In addition, the shadingtarget-counting portion 91 counts up the stored data by one each day ofthe operation. It is possible for the user to change the setting of thecondition in advance, for example, such that the shading correction isperformed once every month, every ** hours of operation, or the like.Types of data stored in the shading target-counting portion 91 arechanged depending on the condition set in the shading correctionimplementation condition portion 90.

The controller 50 determines whether the shading correction is performed(S8). When 100 days do not elapse after the previous shading correctionhas been performed, the shading correction is determined to be notperformed (N in S8), and thus the transport of the booklet P isperformed.

The controller 50 acquires page information provided on the booklet Pusing the PLF 10 provided on the downstream side of the MS reading andwriting unit 9 in the transport direction A during the transport of thebooklet P (S9). As described above, the user transaction information hasbeen already acquired by the controller 50. Information that contains inwhich page of the booklet P the bookkeeping is performed is included inthe transaction information. The information is compared to a detectedpage acquired by the PLF 10. When another page that is not a proper pageto perform the printing this time is opened and inserted, the controller50 transports the booklet P in the transport direction B and provides aninstruction that the user needs to reinsert the booklet with the rightpage of the booklet opened. When a booklet page turning mechanism unit(not illustrated) is provided in the multifunction printer 1, thebooklet P is transported to the booklet page turning mechanism unit andturned over to the right page and then the booklet may be transportedagain to the position.

After the booklet P is transported to the first print unit 13 throughthe MS reading and writing unit 9 and the PLF 10 (S10), the printing isperformed in the booklet P between the dot head 11 and the platen roller12 (S11).

After the printing in the booklet P is completed, the controller 50rotates the feed roller 6 such that the booklet P is transported in thetransport direction B and the transport of the booklet P in cooperationwith the idler roller 7 is stopped at a position where the booklet P ismounted on the insertion and discharge table 30 and a part of thebooklet P protrudes from a front surface 33 to the outside of themultifunction printer 1 (S12).

The collection sensor 31, which is a transmission-type sensor, isprovided in the insertion and discharge slit 2. When the booklet P isstopped at the position where the booklet P protrudes from the frontsurface 33 to the outside of the multifunction printer 1, the collectionsensor 31 is capable of detecting whether the booklet P is present atthe position.

When the transport of the booklet P is stopped at the position where thepart of the booklet P protrudes from the front surface 33 to the outsideof the multifunction printer 1, the collection sensor 31 detects thatthe booklet P is present at the position. When the detection isperformed, the timer 52 is started to perform time measurement (S13) anda sensing signal of the collection sensor 31 represents ON. A set timethat is measured by the timer 52 will be described below.

Then, the controller 50 determines whether or not the user takes backthe booklet P every fixed time (S14). A detection signal of thecollection sensor 31 is used to determine the check of whether the usertakes back the booklet P. The signal of the collection sensor 31 is ONduring the presence of the booklet P. However, when the user takes backthe booklet P, the detection signal of the collection sensor 31 is OFF.The switching makes it possible to determine whether the user takes backthe booklet P.

When the controller 50 determines that the user takes back the booklet P(Y in S14), the operation for the user ends (S15).

The controller 50 determines whether or not the user takes out thebooklet P every fixed time (S14). When it is determined that the userdoes not take out the booklet P (N in S14), the controller 50 checks theperiod of time that has passed since the transport of the booklet P isstopped at the position where the part of the booklet P protrudes fromthe front surface 33 to the outside of the multifunction printer 1, anddetermines whether or not the passed time exceeds a prescribed timeperiod (S16). Here, the prescribed time period is a period of time afterwhich it may be determined that the user forgets to take out the bookletP and the period of time is from a state in which the transport of thebooklet P is stopped at the position where the part of the booklet Pprotrudes from the front surface 33 to the outside of the multifunctionprinter 1, that is, a state in which it is possible for the user to takeout the booklet P, to a certain time point after certain time elapses.The prescribed time period is, for example, 30 seconds which is set inadvance.

When the prescribed time period does not elapse (N in S16), there is apossibility that the user takes out the booklet P. Thus, whether thebooklet P is taken out is determined again (S14).

Whether the prescribed time period elapses is determined (S16). When theprescribed time period elapses (Y in S16), it is determined that thereis a high possibility that the user forgets to take out the booklet Pand the controller 50 first rotates the flapper 28 about the flapperrotating shaft 28-1 in the clockwise direction (S17). Accordingly, thefirst paper transport path 5 and the collection storage 14 are in astate of communicating with each other. Then, the controller 50 rotatesthe feed roller 6 such that the booklet P is transported in thetransport direction A and the booklet P to be recovered in thecollection storage 14 in cooperation with the idler roller 7 (S18) andthe process ends (S15).

The controller 50 determines whether or not to perform the shadingcorrection (S8). When 100 days elapse after the previous shadingcorrection has been performed, the shading correction is determined tobe performed (Y in S8). Thus, the flapper 28 is caused to rotate (S19),and the second paper transport path 21 and the first paper transportpath 5 are turned into a state of communicating with each other. Then,the feed roller 22 is caused to rotate such that the roll paper 15 istransported (S20). When the leading end of the roll paper 15 reaches aposition separated by a prescribed length from the cutter 27 on thedownstream side in the transport direction B after the leading endpasses the cutter 27, the cutter 27 is driven and the roll paper 15 iscut by the cutter 27 (S21). Here, the prescribed length is a length thatsatisfies a size of paper which is usable for the shading correction(described below).

The cut-off ledger sheet C is transported (S22) in the transportdirection B in cooperation of the feed roller 22 with the idler roller23, then through the joining section 29, and stopped at a position ofthe PLF 10. Then, the shading correction of the PLF 10 is performed(S23) using the ledger sheet C as a white reference board for theshading correction. After the completion of the shading correction, theflapper 28 is caused to rotate (S24) such that the insertion anddischarge slit 2 and the collection storage 14 communicate with eachother. Then, the ledger sheet C is recovered in the collection storage14 (S25) in cooperation of the feed roller 6 with the idler roller 7.Then, the data stored in the shading target-counting portion 91 isupdated (S26). For example, according to the embodiment, the data in theshading target-counting portion 91 is updated to “0.” Then, the pageinformation provided on the booklet P is acquired (S9), the booklet P isdischarged from the insertion and discharge slit 2. When the user doesnot take out the booklet P, the booklet P is recovered in the collectionstorage 14. The description thereof is the same as above and thus isomitted.

As above, an example of bookkeeping in the booklet P is described.However, the process of the multifunction printer 1 does not necessarilyprint on the booklet P, and the ledger sheet as an account statement maybe printed. Hereinafter, a case of printing on the ledger sheet isdescribed with reference to FIG. 4.

When a process of printing on the roll paper 15 as the ledger sheet C isstarted (S31), the controller 50 determines whether or not shadingcorrection of the PLF 10 of the multifunction printer 1 is performed(S32). Whether to perform the shading correction is determined using aformula stored in the shading correction implementation conditionportion 90 and data stored in the shading target-counting portion 91.The controller 50 determines whether or not the shading correction isperformed (S32). When it is determined that the shading correction isnot performed (N in S32), the controller 50 receives print data which isto be printed on the roll paper 15 (S33). Then, the flapper 28 is causedto rotate (S34) and the second paper transport path 21 and the firstpaper transport path 5 are turned into a state of communicating witheach other. Then, the feed roller 22 is caused to rotate such that theroll paper 15 is transported (S35) and reaches the second print unit 26.The printing is performed on the printing surface A17 of the roll paper15 under the thermal print head 24 (S36). Then, the feed roller 22 iscaused to rotate such that the roll paper 15 is transported (S37) andthe roll paper 15 is cut in the cutter 27 (S38). The cut-off roll paper15 is discharged from the insertion and discharge slit 2 as the ledgersheet C.

Then, in the multifunction printer 1, the feed roller 22 is caused torotate and the ledger sheet C is conveyed on the insertion and dischargetable 30, in cooperation with the idler roller 23. After the ledgersheet C is transported in the transport direction B to a position wherea part thereof protrudes from the front surface 33 to the outside of themultifunction printer 1, the transport of the roll paper 15 is stopped(S39). Then, the multifunction printer 1 transports the ledger sheet Cto the insertion and discharge slit 2 in the transport direction B androtates the feed roller 22 and then transports, in cooperation with theidler roller 23, a portion of the roll paper 15 from which the sheet iscut off to a position on the upstream side of the second print unit 26in the transport direction B (S40). This process is carried out becausetime for issuing the next ledger sheet is shortened by transporting theleading end of the roll paper 15 that is prepared for issuing the nextledger sheet C to the position on the upstream side of the second printunit 26 in the transport direction B.

The collection sensor 31, which is a transmission-type sensor, isprovided in the insertion and discharge slit 2. When the transport ofthe ledger sheet C is stopped at the position where the part of theledger sheet C protrudes from the front surface 33 to the outside of themultifunction printer 1, the collection sensor 31 detects that theledger sheet C is present at the position and the timer 52 is started toperform time measurement (S41).

Then, the controller 50 determines whether the user takes out the ledgersheet C every fixed time (S42). When the controller 50 determines thatthe user takes out the ledger sheet C (Y in S42), the operation for theuser ends (S43).

When it is determined that the user does not take out the ledger sheet C(N in S42), the controller 50 checks the period of time counted as thetime measurement and determines whether the period of time exceeds aprescribed time period (S44).

When the prescribed time period does not elapse (N in S44), whether theledger sheet C is taken out (S42) is determined again. When theprescribed time period elapses (Y in S44), the controller 50 firstrotates the flapper 28 (S45). Accordingly, the insertion and dischargeslit 2 and the collection storage 14 are turned into a state ofcommunicating with each other. Then, the controller 50 causes the ledgersheet C to be recovered in the collection storage 14 in cooperation ofthe feed roller 6 with the idler roller 7 (S46) and the process ends(S43).

The controller 50 determines whether the shading correction is performed(S32). When 100 days elapse after the previous shading correction hasbeen performed, the shading correction is determined to be performed (Yin S32). Thus, the flapper 28 is caused to rotate (S47) and the secondpaper transport path 21 and the first paper transport path 5 are turnedinto a state of communicating with each other. Then, the feed roller 22is caused to rotate such that the roll paper 15 is transported (S48).When the leading end of the roll paper 15 reaches a position separatedby a prescribed length from the cutter 27 on the downstream side in thetransport direction B after the leading end passes the cutter 27, thecutter 27 is driven such that the roll paper 15 is cut off by the cutter27 (S49).

The cut-off ledger sheet C is transported (S50) in the transportdirection B in cooperation of the feed roller 22 with the idler roller23, then through the joining section 29, and stopped at a position ofthe PLF 10. Then, the shading correction of the PLF 10 is performed(S51) using the ledger sheet C as a white reference board for theshading correction. After the completion of the shading correction, theflapper 28 is caused to rotate (S52) such that the insertion anddischarge slit 2 and the collection storage 14 communicate with eachother. Then, the ledger sheet C is recovered in the collection storage14 (S53) in cooperation of the feed roller 6 with the idler roller 7.Then, the data stored in the shading target-counting portion 91 isupdated (S54). Then, the receiving of the print data is performed (S33),the ledger sheet C is discharged from the insertion and discharge slit2. When the user does not take out the ledger sheet C, the ledger sheetC is recovered in the collection storage 14. The description thereof isthe same as above and thus is omitted. In this way, whichever theprinting in the booklet P or the printing on the roll paper 15 isperformed, it is possible to perform the shading correction at a righttiming.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, whether toperform the shading correction is determined automatically and the rollpaper used as the printing medium is also used as the white referenceboard for the shading correction. Accordingly, the multifunction printer1 does not need to have a separate white reference board and a mechanismfor moving the white reference board, and thus it is possible todecrease the size of the printer. In addition, the white reference boarddoes not need to be prepared and kept separately, unlike a case where auser prepares a separate white reference board and inserts the whitereference board from the outside of the printer when the shadingcorrection is performed.

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, a printer according to the second embodiment will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 5. The detailed descriptionof the same part of the configuration as that according to the firstembodiment is omitted.

According to the first embodiment, during the shading correction, afterthe roll paper 15 to be used is cut off and is used as the whitereference, and then the cut-off roll paper 15 is recovered in thecollection storage 14 after the shading correction. However, the cut-offroll paper 15 recovered in the collection storage 14 is discarded andwasted. On the other hand, according to the second embodiment, the printdata that is printed on the roll paper 15 is analyzed. Then, when thereis a region of the roll paper 15 on which printing is not performed andwhich has a sufficient area to perform the shading correction, at aposition corresponding to the position of the CCD image sensor of thePLF 10, the cut-off roll paper 15 is used also for the ledger sheet C aswell as the white reference board for the shading correction.

According to the second embodiment, when the printing in the booklet Pis performed, whether to perform the shading correction is notdetermined. When the printing on the roll paper 15 is performed, whetherto perform the shading correction is determined.

When a process of issuing the ledger sheet C by printing on the rollpaper 15 is started (S61), the controller 50 receives print data whichis to be printed on the roll paper 15 (S62). Then, in the controller 50,a print data analyzing unit (not illustrated) provided in the ROM 53analyzes whether there is a blank portion on which the printing is notperformed and which has a sufficient area to perform the shadingcorrection on an extended line from the CCD image sensor of the PLF 10in the transport direction based on the received print data (S63). Whenthe result of the analysis is that there is no blank area to perform theshading correction, that is, when it is determined that the data doesnot match a data with which the shading correction may be performed (Nin S64), then the flapper 28 is caused to rotate (S65) and the secondpaper transport path 21 and the first paper transport path 5 are turnedinto a state of communicating with each other. Then, the feed roller 22is caused to rotate such that the roll paper 15 is transported andreaches the second print unit 26 (S66). The printing is performed on theprinting surface A17 of the roll paper 15 under the thermal print head24 in accordance with the print data (S67). Then, the feed roller 22 iscaused to rotate such that the roll paper 15 is transported (S68) andthe roll paper 15 is cut in the cutter 27 (S69). The cut roll paper 15is discharged from insertion and discharge slit 2 as the ledger sheet C.

Then, in the multifunction printer 1, the feed roller 22 is caused torotate and the ledger sheet C to be placed on the insertion anddischarge table 30, in cooperation with the idler roller 23. After theledger sheet C is transported in the transport direction B to a positionwhere a part thereof protrudes from the front surface 33 to the outsideof the multifunction printer 1, the transport of the roll paper 15 isstopped (S70). Then, the multifunction printer 1 transports the ledgersheet C to the insertion and discharge slit 2 in the transport directionB and rotates the feed roller 22 and then transports, in cooperationwith the idler roller 23, a portion of the roll paper 15 from which theledger sheet C is cut off to a position on the upstream side of thesecond print unit 26 in the transport direction B. This process iscarried out because time for issuing the next ledger sheet is shortenedby transporting the leading end of the roll paper 15 that is preparedfor issuing the next ledger sheet C to the position on the upstream sideof the second print unit 26 in the transport direction B.

The collection sensor 31, which is a transmission-type sensor, isprovided in the insertion and discharge slit 2. When the transport ofthe ledger sheet C is stopped at the position where the part of theledger sheet C protrudes from the front surface 33 to the outside of themultifunction printer 1, the collection sensor 31 detects that theledger sheet C is present at the position and the timer 52 is started toperform time measurement (S71).

Then, the controller 50 determines whether the user takes out the ledgersheet C every fixed time (S72). When the controller 50 determines thatthe user takes out the ledger sheet C (Y in S72), the operation for theuser ends (S73).

When it is determined that the user does not take out the ledger sheet C(N in S72), the controller 50 checks the period of time counted as thetime measurement and determines whether the period of time exceeds aprescribed time period (S74).

When the prescribed time period does not elapse (N in S74), whether theledger sheet C is taken out (S72) is determined again. When theprescribed time period elapses (Y in S74), the controller 50 firstrotates the flapper 28 (S75). Accordingly, the insertion and dischargeslit 2 and the collection storage 14 are in a state of communicatingwith each other. Then, the controller 50 causes the ledger sheet C to berecovered in the collection storage 14 in cooperation of the feed roller6 with the idler roller 7 (S76) and the process ends (S73).

When the print data is analyzed (S63) and it is determined that the datamatches a data with which the shading correction may be performed (Y inS64), then the flapper 28 is caused to rotate (S77) and the second papertransport path 21 and the first paper transport path 5 are turned into astate of communicating with each other. Then, the feed roller 22 iscaused to rotate such that the roll paper 15 is transported (S78) andreaches the second print unit 26. The printing is performed on theprinting surface A17 of the roll paper 15 under the thermal print head24 in accordance with the print data (S79). Then, the feed roller 22 iscaused to rotate such that the roll paper 15 is transported (S80), andthen the roll paper 15 is cut off by the cutter 27 (S81). Then, thecontroller 50 rotates the feed roller 22 and the feed roller 6 such thatthe roll paper 15 cut off by the cutter 27, i.e., the ledger sheet C, istransported in the transport direction B. The controller 50 stops theblank portion in the ledger sheet C, with which the shading correctionmay be performed, at a position which matches a detection position ofthe CCD image sensor of the PLF 10 (S82), and then the shadingcorrection is performed (S83). The transported ledger sheet C isconveyed to the insertion and discharge slit 2 to be handed to the user.When the user forgets to take out the ledger sheet C, the ledger sheet Cis recovered in the collection storage 14. Such types of control are thesame as above and thus, the description thereof is omitted.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when theprinting is performed on a portion of the roll paper 15 that is cut offas the ledger sheet C, the print data for the printing is analyzed. Whena blank with which the shading correction may be performed is determinedto be included in the ledger sheet based on the print data, the shadingcorrection of the CCD image sensor is performed using the ledger sheet.As the multifunction printer 1 does not need to include a separate whitereference board and a mechanism for moving the white reference board, itis possible to decrease the size of the printer. In addition, the whitereference board does not need to be prepared and kept separately, unlikea case where a user prepares a separate white reference board andinserts the white reference board from the outside of the printer whenthe shading correction is performed. In addition, since the ledger sheetwhich is issued and handed to the user is also used as the whitereference board, there is no recovered paper. Thus, no paper is wasted,unlike a case of recovering a cut-off sheet on which no printing isperformed is used as the white reference board.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a dischargeopening; a printer disposed along a sheet conveyance path extending fromthe discharge opening and configured to print an image on a sheet whilethe sheet is conveyed towards the discharge opening therethrough; ascanner disposed along the sheet conveying path between the dischargeopening and the printer, and configured to scan a sheet surface; and acontroller configured to perform a shading correction of the scannerusing the sheet as a white reference without printing the image on thesheet with the printer.
 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a container, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to cause the sheet used as the white reference for theshading correction to be conveyed to the container.
 3. The printingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a container, whereinthe container is disposed farther from the discharge opening than theprinter along the sheet conveyance path.
 4. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured tocause the sheet used as the white reference for the shading correctionto be conveyed to the discharge opening.
 5. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising: a container, wherein thecontroller is further configured to start counting time when the sheetis conveyed to the discharge opening, and start sheet conveyance to thecontainer when the sheet has not been taken out at timing when thecounted time reaches a reference time.
 6. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured todetermine whether to perform the shading correction based on timing of aprevious shading correction.
 7. The printing apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the controller determines whether to perform theshading correction before the sheet reaches the printer, when the sheetis conveyed to the printer for printing.
 8. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the shading correction is performed usinga region of the sheet on which no image is printed, as the whitereference.
 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprinter is a thermal printer.
 10. The printing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a cutter disposed to cut an unwound portionof a roll sheet, wherein the unwound portion of the roll sheet isconveyed to the scanner as the sheet.
 11. A method for operating aprinting apparatus including a discharge opening, a printer disposedalong a sheet conveyance path extending from the discharge opening, anda scanner disposed along the sheet conveying path between the dischargeopening and the printer and configured to scan a sheet surface, themethod comprising: conveying a sheet to the scanner through the printer;and performing a shading correction of the scanner using the sheet as awhite reference without printing an image on the sheet with the printer.12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: conveying thesheet to a container of the printer after the shading correction ends.13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the printing apparatusfurther includes a container, and the container is disposed farther fromthe discharge opening than the printer along the sheet conveyance path.14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: conveying thesheet to the discharge opening after the shading correction ends. 15.The method according to claim 14, further comprising: starting to counttime when the sheet is conveyed to the discharge opening, and conveyingthe sheet to a container of the printer when the sheet as not been takenout at timing when the counted time reaches a reference time.
 16. Themethod according to claim 11, further comprising: determining whether toperform the shading correction based on timing of a previous shadingcorrection, wherein the shading correction is performed based on thedetermination.
 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:the determining is carried out before the sheet is conveyed to theprinter.
 18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the shadingcorrection is performed using a region of the sheet on which no image isprinted, as the white reference.
 19. The method according to claim 11,wherein the printer is a thermal printing unit.
 20. The method accordingto claim 11, further comprising: cutting an unwound portion of a rollsheet, wherein the unwound portion of the roll sheet is conveyed to thescanner as the sheet.